Suzuki Outboard Cylinder Heads & Blocks

Suzuki Cylinder Heads & Blocks- Resources & Information

A cylinder block is the part of an engine containing the cylinders. The cylinder block acts as the central frame of the engine, and all the other engine components are attached to it. Maintaining your Suzuki Outboard Cylinder Heads and Blocks is essential for prolonging your Suzuki marine engine life. 

PartsVu.com is happy to offer a broad selection of replacement OEM cylinder heads and blocks for all models Suzuki outboard motors. Need Suzuki OEM parts quick? We offer same-day shipping of Suzuki Outboard Cylinder Heads & Blocks and more at the lowest prices you’ll find online. 

In addition offer Suzuki Marine Engine Cylinder Heads and Blocks and a complete selection of Suzuki Outboard Parts, PartsVu is also proud to help boaters by providing helpful resources for Suzuki outboard motors:

• Suzuki Outboard Engine Oil Capacities & Oil Filter Chart
• Suzuki Outboard Engine Gear Lube Capacity Chart
• Suzuki Outboard 100-Hour Service Checklist
• Suzuki Outboard Season Breakout Guide

Suzuki Outboard Cylinder Heads & Blocks FAQ

How do I know if I have water in my Suzuki outboard engine block?

If you are confronted with water in your Suzuki outboard engine, the first place to look before disassembling the engine and checking for a porous Suzuki outboard engine block, cracked Suzuki cylinder head, eroded exhaust-water passage, frozen oil cooler, or other labor-intensive issues, is the Suzuki thermostat. Remember that some engines have two thermostats, like Suzuki’s V-engines.

To locate the Suzuki thermostat(s), be sure to refer to the service manual as the location varies by the engine. The service manual procedure states that you should put the thermostat in a pot of hot water and check if it opens and closes at the correct temperature. If you do not have access to this method, then an infrared temperature gun can be used at the thermostat housing to get an indication of engine temperature. Again, refer to the service manual for the correct temperature operating range.

If you’ve determined that the engine is running cold, it’s a good indicator that the thermostat is stuck open. Remove the thermostat housing and inspect it. If it is stuck open, replace the thermostat with a new one, and be sure to do several oil and filter changes to ensure water is removed from the engine’s oil.

You might be wondering how water gets into the oil due to a thermostat being stuck open. If the engine is running cold, the hot oil meeting a cold engine can produce condensation. The condensation eventually condenses into water and falls into the oil. With an engine running cold, water isn’t the only pollutant getting into the oil. The piston rings (running cold) won’t fully expand to thoroughly seal against the Suzuki outboard cylinder wall and may allow a small percentage of raw fuel to constantly seep past them and collect in the sump. Prolonged running with this condition can cause the oil to develop a milky residue. Debris can also get stuck in thermostats and prevent them from retracting back to the closed position.

If you suspect water in the engine oil, there are a couple of quick ways to check. One way is to remove and look at the underside of the oil cap to see if there’s moisture in it. Another way is to pull out the dipstick to check for moisture in the oil. Either method is effective. Suzuki thermostat issues can be prevented by flushing the engine regularly per the owner’s manual.

What is a leakdown test?

A Suzuki outboard engine leakdown test indicates the condition of each of the engine’s cylinders and the overall condition of the motor. Similar to a compression test, it involves spraying compressed air into each cylinder and using a pressure gauge to measure a percentage of pressure that’s lost after a short period.

Also, part of doing a leakdown test on a motor is to listen for any signs of leakage. By listening closely to each cylinder and the areas around them, you’ll better understand where leaks may be present.

The goal of a pressure test is to confirm whether the motor has any air leaks. The presence or absence of air in engines often leads to leaking of fuel-air mixtures and leakage of fuel during operation. 

Additionally, these leaks may become infiltration points for water and moisture from the aquatic environment, resulting in internal corrosion, sub-optimal performance (i.e., at idle, low RPMs, and high RPMs), and other issues.

How do I perform a leakdown test on my Suzuki outboard engine?

1. Step #1: Begin by carefully removing the top Suzuki cowling, Then, remove the ignition coil cover at the rear of the motor.
2. Step #2: Remove the spark plugs. Be sure to lay the Suzuki spark plugs in numbered order to reinsert or replace them after the test.
3. Step #3: Remove the flywheel cover from the top of the motor.
4. Step #4: Mark the flywheel with a marker at 0°, 120°, and 240°. These positions will indicate where you’ll rotate each pair of cylinders to the top-dead-center positions (see Steps #11 and #12 below).
5. Step #5: Rotate the crankshaft with your ratchet and socket to the top dead center for Suzuki Suzuki cylinder #1.
6. Step #6: Adjust the regulator on the leak down tester to 0% to calibrate it for an accurate reading. 
7. Step #7: Connect the leak-down tester by screwing it into the spark plug port at cylinder #1. Next, connect the tester to the compressor and take a measurement. Be sure to firmly hold the crankshaft to prevent it from rotating.
8. Step #8: Rotate the crankshaft 360° (one full rotation) to put Suzuki cylinder #4 at the top dead center.
9. Step #9: Connect the leak-down tester to cylinder #4. Then, take a measurement while holding the crankshaft to prevent it from rotating.
10. Step #10: Set Suzuki cylinder #3 to the top dead center at the 120° mark. Next, repeat step #7 through Step #10 for Suzuki cylinders #3 and #6.
11. Step #11: Set cylinder #2 to the top dead center at the 240° mark. Then, repeat step #7 through Step #10 for Suzuki cylinders #2 and #5.

Step #12: Replacement is the same as disassembly. Be sure to replace spark plugs in numbered order and apply an anti-seizing lubricant on the threads for easy removal/replacement in the future. Also, firmly reattach the ignition wires for a solid connection.

How do I troubleshoot a Suzuki Outboard Motor?

It’s best to first address the simplest potential problems before getting into more complicated matters. The following quick fixes may address the reason your Suzuki outboard motor stopped working. 

• It may sound obvious, but check if there is gas in the tank. If so, is the tank vent open? A closed vent prevents air from replacing fuel as the motor pulls it out, which is necessary for firing up the engine. 
• If the kill switch isn’t properly attached it could very well be the source of your motor problems. Undo the electrical connection and put it right back into place. The kill switch may need to be replaced altogether. 
• The next point to check is your gear shift. It’s easy to knock out of place, which prevents the engine from starting. Make sure that you’re in neutral and try starting your engine once more. 
• Sometimes, the issue may simply be that your Suzuki engine propeller has something tangled around it. This may be a fishing line, excessive seaweed, or some other material that’s worked its way around the blades. Carefully remove anything that may be wrapped around the propeller, and give it a once-over for any damage that may be present. If the propeller is damaged, it needs to be replaced. Debris around the propeller is the most likely culprit if your boat motor starts, but quickly dies.
• Try to start the engine both with and without using the choke. If this doesn’t work, try altering the throttle position. Applying more or less gas can sometimes do the trick. Finally, squeeze the primer bulb a few times to make sure the engine is primed up.
• Some batteries have an on/off switch. If this is true for your battery, make sure the switch is on. Then, if your engine is under 25HP, you may be able to use the emergency cord to pull-start. It’s possible to do this with up to a 50HP engine, but be aware that the higher the HP, the more difficult this will be. If this works, the battery is likely the issue. You may need to replace it.

How do I perform a 100-hour service on my Suzuki outboard engine?

To ensure proper engine function, it’s always best to service your Suzuki outboard engine every 100 hours after the initial break-in period (first 10 hours) and after the first maintenance interval (at 20 hours). 

The following is a Suzuki outboard 100-hour service checklist to help you service your engine properly:

If you want a more in-depth explanation of how to perform a 100-hour service on a Suzuki outboard engine, read our blog “Suzuki Outboard 100-Hour Service Checklist”. 

To make engine maintenance even easier, PartsVu has a wide selection of Suzuki outboard engine 100-hour service kits available. They’re pre-assembled with everything you need to keep your boat happy and healthy every 100 hours.